Mission

East Harlem Against Deportation, at its roots, draws its strength from immigrants, their friends and loved ones, and local community organizations, all of whom daily live out the struggle against our country's broken immigration system. Our movement will include organizing events and a letter-writing campaign throughout Spring and Summer 2009, as well as the formulation of a specific policy agenda to protect undocumented immigrants in New York City and State.

EHAD Final Policy Report

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Truth About Immigrants: Mosaic of Stories and Voices

What an East Harlem evening. Esperanza del Barrio brought in vendors of tostales and flautas, an audience of more than one hundred people trickled in as violinist Sergio Reyes and guitarist Beau Bledsoe performed, children bumbled about in the Children's Aid basketball court, strollers and parents lined the back, more curious passersby pressed against the fence for a glimpse of the exuberant and fantastically-dressed Mexican dance group, and all quieted down as dusk settled.

The main course of the night was a series of four movie screenings on the lives of immigrant vendors and taxi drivers in NYC. The documentaries were projected on to the back wall of the basketball court, each telling a story behind all too familiar scenes in New York streets. The lives of immigrants perhaps make for the most underrepresented and misrepresented stories in cinema. These documentaries, presented by Art for Change and the New York Immigration Coalition, revealed the inner hearts and voices of New York immigrant communities.

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Here more immigrant voices! A member of my church and activist community, Roxroy Salmon, will be speaking at an immigrants’ rights event in Union Square this Saturday at noon. Roxroy is a 32-year resident of Brooklyn who is facing deportation despite the fact that his wife, kids and granddaughter are all US citizens. He has a hearing on July 7, after which he could be unjustly and permanently exiled from his entire family and community. Roxroy will be sharing his story at the "Children's Vigil", a youth-led effort to raise awareness about the catastrophic effect US deportation policy has on families. I'm going to be there, along with some other members of the First Presbyterian Church of the City of New York. Below are more details -- please join me, the New Sanctuary Movement, and Families for Freedom at this great event and help spread the word!

Annual Children’s Vigil Celebrates NY’s Support of American Kids, Immigrant Families Honor Father’s Day by Calling for Passage of the Child Citizen Protection Act (HR 182)

WHAT: On the eve of Father’s Day, Families for Freedom’s Youth Committee will be holding its annual Children’s Vigil to raise awareness about American kids whose families are ripped apart due to the federal government’s draconian deportation policies. The year’s Vigil will celebrate the overwhelming support New York has shown for this bill and pay special tribute to immigrant dads fighting to stay with their families. Youth will follow the Vigil by holding a street corner speak-out to educate the community about what they can do to help win passage of this legislation. WHY: As President Obama sets his sights on immigration reform, American kids and their immigrant families want him to know that New Yorkers’ priority is to keep our families together. The Child Citizen Protection Act (HR 182) is the only bill currently in Congress that unties the hands of immigration judges to consider the best interests of U.S. citizen children during deportation proceedings. In the past fiscal year, nearly 350,000 people were deported leaving behind thousands of American kids who need their moms and dads. The Vigil will be a celebration of the hundreds of New Yorkers who have lobbied, called, written, and visited Congress to help get this legislation reintroduced and cosponsored in 2009!WHEN: Saturday, June 20, 2009, 11am-1pm

About Us

East Harlem Against Deportation is a campaign organized by the community’s elected representatives: State Senator José M. Serrano; Congressman Charles B. Rangel; Assemblymember Adam Powell IV; Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer; and Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito; with support from local advocates, concerned families and non-profit organizations.***